Ralph Marshall — the first Bermudian of Portuguese descent to serve as a member of the House of Assembly — has passed away at age 85.

Born in May 4, 1927, Mr Marshall was educated at Greenfield Primary, Port Royal School in Southampton before moving on to Mount Allison Academy, Mount Allison University in New Brunswick and the Nova Scotia Technical College.

In 1951 he received a Bachelor of Engineering Degree, and after working overseas Mr Marshall returned to Bermuda in 1954 and formed his own company Marshall-Bernardo Partnership with Louis Bernardo.

In 1953 he married Patricia Francis Vallis [now deceased] and from that union they had three children, Belinda, Marsha [deceased] and Blake.

Mr Marshall was a trailblazer for the Portuguese Bermudian community and helped break down the barriers that the Portuguese community experienced in Bermuda during his formative years.

In 1963 he became the first Portuguese Bermudian Member of Parliament, and in 1972 he became the first Portuguese Bermudian Cabinet Minister. He represented the constituency of Southampton West from 1963 to 1993, and also held various portfolios from 1972 onwards as a Cabinet Minister under the United Bermuda Party Government.

A statement from the family said they “regret to announce the death of the Hon. Ralph Owen Marshall CBE of Peacehaven, Sandy’s, one of Bermuda’s longest serving retired Members of Parliament who was a trailblazer for Portuguese community of Bermuda in politics, business and socially.”

I will always remember Ralf Marshall, he and his wife liked to eat out at IL Palio restaurant ( closed for sometime now ) another couple and ourselves were there at the same time as he was, we said good evening to he and his wife, and when our bill came he had paid for our wine bill.... he always had time to say hello and ask how are you doing , that is my memory of Ralf Marshall.

Truth, you are so stupid... why must you always play the race card ? did you ever talk to this man ? Ralph was a man of the people...he could care less what color you were. Ralph,was only concerned about Bermudians..

Uncle Ralph~ may you rest peacefully as you reunite with your love, Aunt Tissie! You will be very missed by your family and all of Bermuda. You were a kind and caring man who positively touched so many lives. Heartfelt hugs to Belinda, Blake and families~

If we are serious about recognizing National Hero's, Ralph Marshall is a definite candidate from our Portuguese community, which would clearly show that the Government of the day is committed to a policy of inclusion. My vote is for Ralph to be recognized on our next Hero's Day.

On a lighter note, how many people remember the extension of Marsh Folly Road - along the old railway tracks running through Pembroke and Devonshire - being labelled "Marshall's Folly" because Ralph pushed it through while he was the Minister of W&E. He was severely criticized at the time by some, but it proved to be a quantum improvement for traffic getting to Hamilton from the East End.